Chapter 40 - Love Me Once More!
Translated by Eve
Edited by Karasunofight
4. Love Me Once More!
Xie He’s chin was pinched tightly. His pale face trembled in the other man’s hand. After a long time, he spoke with a rough voice, “You’re joking, right…?”
Deng Jingwen raised an eyebrow. His boy didn’t seem to understand the situation he was in, ne. Well, that would not do.
“I’ve said it before. I don’t make jokes.”
Deng Jingwen suddenly dipped his head down, no longer holding himself back from kissing those brightly coloured lips. The sweet touch of those lips exceeded his expectations. It was an unprecedented softness and sweetness. What was originally supposed to be a probing kiss suddenly deepened!
Xie He seemed to have been scared silly and forgot to resist. He let Deng Jingwen do as he desired.
It was only when the kiss ended that he realized what had just happened…he had actually been kissed by Deng Jingwen.
Xie He suddenly pushed Deng Jingwen away and curled up in the opposite corner of the sofa. He used an unfamiliar fear to stare at him.
When Deng Jingwen felt that his arms were now empty, an inexplicable emptiness filled his heart too. However, he did not let this show on his face and continued to watch Xie He with an unperturbed face as he spoke in an insipid tone, “Now, do you understand?”
“I…I…” Xie He shuddered. He wiped his lips with great force, and his eyes were full of chaos, fear, and perplexion. Why? Why did it turn out like this? This person wasn’t his…why did he have to do that to him?!
“You…you’re still my…no…” Xie He looked at him, pained. Both hands were clenched tightly, his nails practically sinking into the flesh of his palms.
Deng Jingwen stared at this version of the boy, and tenderness flashed through his heart. However, he could not continue to be this boy’s father. He was never his father, after all. Thus, he couldn’t allow him to continue occupying the identity of his son. This point, this boy had to understand.
Deng Jingwen’s lips raised, “I can only be your man.”
Xie He’s eyes were fixed firmly on Deng Jingwen. He suddenly screamed, head in his hands, “I’m dreaming! This must be a nightmare!”
He jumped off the sofa and rushed out without looking back!
This must be a nightmare. He was definitely still dreaming. It would be fine so long as he left this place…!
Deng Jingwen watched the boy run away in a panic, a shallow smile on his lips. He gave Liu Yan a call, “Release the news that Deng Zhuo has been expelled from the family.”
Liu Yan had just seen Xie He rushing out with a miserable appearance. Although he didn’t know what had happened, he had never questioned Deng Jingwen’s orders and so, he promptly said, “Yes, I will do it! In addition, is it necessary to include the specific details regarding the reason behind it?”
Deng Jingwen smiled, “No need.”
His boy will return. Deng Zhuo will very quickly find out just how cruel this world is without Deng Jingwen’s protection.
……………………………………………………
When Xie He rushed out, the rain had already stopped. He was very happy that he would not have to wander about in the rain again. He had just finished looking at the holographic image the System had transferred over when he heard about Deng Jingwen’s plans and suddenly felt a sense of kinship.
【Xie He：To be honest, Dad is really impressive. 🙂 】
【444：……】He always found what Host dada appreciated to be rather curious. He really didn’t know how to respond. _(:зゝ∠)_
【Xie He：Unfortunately, I can’t obey him so easily. Sigh.jpg】
Actually, Deng Zhuo still had an escape route. Although he had been expelled from the family, he would not fall into dire straits immediately, because there was still Ning Qi who secretly loved him. Deng Jingwen did not know about this as Ning Qi had covered it up very well. Furthermore, Deng Jingwen did not pay attention to Deng Zhuo’s private life either.
Deng Zhuo had suffered such an attack from Deng Jingwen. Moreover, because he was an arrogant rich kid, he didn’t have any friends. At this time, he ought to recall his school senior, Ning Qi, who had always taken good care of him, and instinctively want to rely on him.
However, Xie He did not want to waste time on Ning Qi.
Xie He analyzed what Deng Zhuo would feel while returning to school.
Ning Qi had just finished class when he saw the boy tottering on his feet, waiting for him at the entrance to Ning Qi’s dorm. He quickly walked over and called out with deep concern, “Xiao Zhuo!” Actually, he hadn’t seen Deng Zhuo for several days nor had they been in contact. He had been worried this whole time, but never imagined that they would suddenly meet today.
Xie He looked at Ning Qi. His original distraught expression gradually calmed down, and he called out weakly, “Xuezhang.”
Ning Qi stared at his pitiful appearance of someone who had been abandoned, and he felt extremely distressed, “What happened?”
Xie He parted his lips but did not say anything in the end. He didn’t want others to know that he had been thrown away by his father…it was too sad and too shameful.
Ning Qi tactfully did not continue this line of questioning upon seeing seeing this reaction, “Have you had dinner yet?”
Xie He shook his head.
Ning Qi grabbed his wrist, “I’ll treat you to dinner.”
Xie He was tired and hungry, and his calves were constantly shaking. Only after he was led by Ning Qi to a private room at a restaurant and ate piping hot food, did he return to normal. He felt conflicted for a moment before lowering his head to say, “Xuezhang, can I…stay with you for a while?”
Ning Qi did not ask why and simply nodded, “OK.”
Xie He raised his head to look at him, eyes red, and said with gratefulness, “Thank you.”
Ning Qi smiled and silently gazed at him with a profound look. The boy had red eyes and had lowered his head, clearly disheartened. The normally beautiful visage looked even more delicate, making people want to treat him with tenderness all the more&#k2026;.
It was nothing to let him stay awhile. If he had it his way, Ning Qi would have the boy stay by his side for eternity.
Although Ning Qi lived in the dorm most of the time, he had another home outside. Because he wanted to help Xie He settle down, he did not go back to school at nighttime and directly took Xie He to his home instead.
He looked at Xie He and said, “Go take a shower first, ba.”
The boy looked miserable. Although his clothes were now dry, they were still wrinkled and stuck to his skin from when he had been drenched in the rain. Ning Qi considerately gave him a set of his own pyjamas, “I’ll take you shopping for clothes tomorrow. For now, my clothes will have to make do.”
Xie He silently took the clothes and went into the washroom.
Ning Qi watched as the boy shut the door and listened as the sound of the shower echoed from the other side of the washroom door. He then went to make a call.
Although Xie He was unwilling to tell him what had happened, it was obviously no trifling matter considering his appearance, so Ning Qi felt that it was essential to find out what had happened. He had originally thought that it would take some effort to make inquiries and never expected that he would figure out the cause with just one call.
As soon as the call connected, he could hear his friend’s extremely excited voice, “Huge gossip! Huge gossip! Did you know? Deng Zhuo was expelled by Deng Jingwen from the Deng Family!!!”
“What?!” Ning Qi was frightened, and his voice inadvertently rose.
“It’s true! I also just heard about this. Deng Jingwen personally released the news. Right now, practically everyone already knows about this! The announcement was made with so much fanfare, it seems that he’s firm on cutting off all ties!” The friend’s tone was exaggerated, “This is desperately serious. Deng Zhuo is usually such an arrogant person. Who knows just how many people he’s offended? Those people didn’t dare touch him because of Deng Jingwen, but right now, Deng Jingwen doesn’t care about him. I think that this youngster is gonna die miserably, ah!!! Hahaha….”
Ning Qi calmed down, “I understand.”
“Right, why did you call me?” The friend asked.
Ning Qi replied, “It’s nothing.”
He hung up, eyebrows furrowing. He gazed in the direction of the washroom with a complicated look. The boy still didn’t know about this, ba…which explains why he was hemming and hawing, unwilling to say the reason when Ning Qi asked him earlier. Perhaps he was thinking that he could go back once Deng Jingwen’s anger cooled. However…this thinking was really too naive.
Even more than Deng Zhuo, Ning Qi understood what kind of person Deng Jingwen was. Deng Jingwen was a…callous, unfeeling person that would do exactly as he said. Since he had made such a decision, he would not change it. It was even less likely to be a joke.
What his friend had said on the phone just now, including what fate awaited Deng Zhuo…was not at all exaggerated.
Normally in a situation like this, he should feel concern and sympathy for the boy. However…Ning Qi felt an odd, baffling feeling inside. He thought about how Deng Zhuo didn’t like men. Before, he had Deng Jingwen’s protection, which was why Ning Qi did not dare to cross the line. At that time, he had thought that his feelings would remain unrequited for the rest of his life.
But right now…doesn’t this mean that he had a chance?
Xie He waited for Ning Qi to finish his call, not in a hurry to come out in the least. He also gave Ning Qi some time to process the information he had just gathered before emerging from the washroom.
Ning Qi’s clothes were a bit big on him. The plaid pyjamas hung loosely on his body, and the collar was opened, exposing his slender, pale neck. His collarbone was also faintly discernible. Xie He seemed to not understand just how tempting his current appearance was to Ning Qi. He was a straight man after all!
When Ning Qi saw this version of Xie He… his eyes immediately darkened.
However, he was a person with good self-control. Without Deng Jingwen, he could pursue Deng Zhuo openly. Right now, it was only he who could protect Deng Zhuo as well. It was only he who would be willing to protect him. Thus, there was no need to act overhasty. After all, he didn’t want to scare the boy off.
Ning Qi smiled, “If you’re tired, rest early tonight, ba.”
Xie He stretched his back and said, “OK, ah. I’ve been exhausted all day.”
Ning Qi led him to the bedroom and said, “There’s only one bed. We’ll share the bed tonight, OK?”
Xie He didn’t even have to think, “Of course. It’s fine, everyone here is a man after all.”
Although he had received such a scare from Deng Jingwen, he was completely trusting of Ning Qi.
The corner of Ning Qi’s lips rose, “You’re right.”
Ning Qi went to take a shower before coming back. The boy had already fallen asleep, free of all worries. The boy did not have a good sleeping posture and would roll around, so his clothes were dishevelled and exposed a great expanse of fair skin…. Ning Qi knelt on one knee at the bedside and leaned over to gaze at the boy.
The boy was sleeping in front of him, unguarded…at this moment, he suddenly felt that self-control was actually a very difficult thing to practice.
He really wanted to directly embrace the boy. However, Ning Qi resisted the urge in the end. He sighed and then gently brought the sleeping boy into his arms.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
The sunlight shone on Xie He’s face in the morning. He opened his eyes in a daze and discovered that he was being held against someone’s chest. He immediately revealed an embarrassed expression. However, what was even more embarrassing was the fact that he could feel Ning Qi’s thing poking him.
He pushed Ning Qi aside and jumped out of the bed.
When he was pushed like this, Ning Qi naturally awakened. He smiled as he looked at the boy, “You’re up.”
Xie He hummed and turned his head away, not looking back at him. His ears flushed a faint red.
Ning Qi lowered his head and immediately realized why the boy was uneasy. He stood up calmly, “This is a normal reaction. Actually, wouldn’t you also wake to this?”
Of course Xie He knew that this was very normal. Only, after having experienced the matter regarding Deng Jingwen, he was easily frightened nowadays. However, he didn’t want to admit that he was overthinking things, so he turned his head away, acting like a tsundere, raising the tip of his eyebrow. Because his features were gorgeous, every frown and smile of his was breathtaking.
When Ning Qi saw the boy like this, the desire within him stirred once more. The boy was so homophobic…if he continued to be tactful like this, just when on earth would the other understand his intentions? Ning Qi fell silent for a moment and then probed, “Only…what if I actually really liked you, ne?”
The next moment, he saw the boy’s expression immediately freeze. Fear emerged within his eyes, and his body trembled.
Ning Qi found this reaction very unexpected.He was only testing the waters, so the words he said just now were not at all excessive. According to how dense the boy was, he should have taken his words as a joke. Why was his reaction so intense today? Ning Qi was a detail-oriented person and immediately realized that something was off. There was something going on here!
Xie He looked at him, on guard, like a kitten with its fur puffed out, “What do you mean by…like?”
Ning Qi had originally planned to say that he was joking but…he suddenly didn’t want to do that anymore. He gazed at Xie He’s eyes and said, “The literal meaning. The kind of like one would have for their lover.”
Afterwards, he watched as fear, loathing, alarm, and some other complicated emotions appeared in the other’s eyes. Deng Zhuo shouted, “Why are you also like this!? Why are you also like this!? Scram! I don’t want your love!”
He glared at Ning Qi very fiercely, his tone full of unmasked hatred.
Xie He’s expression deeply pierced Ning Qi’s heart. Was his love so abominable? Although he had always known that the boy hated homosexuality, it was only in this moment that he truly understood heartache. He maintained his rationality though and continued to ask, “You said that I am ‘also’ like that, so is there someone else that likes you? Someone else who also likes you like that?”
This was the crucial part of the question and clearly the biggest reason for the boy’s fear. Could another man have…when Ning Qi thought of this, his expression grew cold, containing a stifled anger!
“No! No one likes me!” Xie He averted his gaze away from Ning Qi in a panic.
Ning Qi suddenly closed in, fixing his own eyes on Xie He’s firmly, and spoke in a low voice, “Tell me. Who is the other man?”
Xie He went out of control and screamed, “I said there is no one!!!”
He felt that the Ning Qi before him was very unfamiliar and frightening. Xie He turned around, wanting to escape, but Ning Qi grabbed his wrist and pulled him back, pressing him tightly against the wall! Ning Qi gazed deeply into his eyes and asked again, “Did that man touch you? Did he kiss you?”
This was the boy that he fell for, the one he loved in silence. And yet his firsts were taken by another man…how could he bear it!?
Xie He could not throw him off. As he watched Ning Qi approaching closer, he shrieked, “What do you want to do?!”
“Deng Jingwen has already disowned you. Everyone knows that he doesn’t want you,” Ning Qi originally didn’t want to say this, but his anger had already taken control. Moreover…this kind of information couldn’t be hidden anyway. His lips were so close to Xie He’s that they nearly touched, “Except for me, there’s no one else you can rely on.”
Xie He’s face paled, and his lips trembled, “N-no way….He wouldn’t do that to me…” However, a voice in his head said, ‘Why not?’ He was even able to kiss you, then demand you become his lover. To disown you and sever all ties is nothing…he didn’t want you to begin with! You aren’t his son!
“I really like you. If you choose to be with me, I will take care of you and protect you from now on, OK?” Ning Qi spoke in a gentle voice as he looked at the boy’s dazed appearance, heart softening.
Xie He stared at him blankly, eyes full of helplessness.
When Ning Qi saw the boy’s pitiable, tottering appearance, he could no longer control himself, and he lowered his head to kiss those soft lips. He finally…kissed the boy he loved.
【Ding. Ning Qi’s Favourability Value+5. The current Favourability Value is 85.】
Xie He’s pupils constricted. This kiss was very gentle, completely unlike the one from Deng Jingwen…but…he didn’t like it. He didn’t like it at all! Why…why did these people have such intentions towards him? Why did the person he saw as his revered father, why did the senior he deeply trusted all hold such intentions towards him! So nauseating, so insufferable, so painful…this world was no longer the one he knew!
Why did everyone change beyond recognition overnight!?
Xie He suddenly raised his leg and kneed Ning Qi between the legs. Ning Qi couldn’t help but let go from the pain, and Xie He took the opportunity to escape!
He had to go ask Deng Jingwen about whether he had really declared to the world that he didn’t want him!
He didn’t believe it!
Because Xie He was in a hurry, he was still wearing Ning Qi’s pyjamas. He also didn’t care about the gazes of passing people and just rushed out onto the main street! He first went to Deng Jingwen’s office but was blocked at the main entrance! After causing a fuss, Liu Yan came out to see him and tell him that Deng Jingwen was not at the office.
Xie He’s eyes were red as he looked at Liu Yan, “Where’s Dad? I want to see him!”
Liu Yan sighed, looking at the boy’s current appearance, “He’s at the Jiangan hotel. If you really want to see him, go there, ba.” Although he felt sympathetic towards the boy, he actually didn’t tell Deng Zhuo about Deng Jingwen’s whereabouts out of sympathy but because of Deng Jingwen’s instructions.
He didn’t quite understand what Deng Jingwen was thinking. Since he had publicly disowned Deng Zhuo, why did he want Deng Zhuo to know about his location?
Once Xie He found out about where Deng Jingwen was, he turned on his heels and left.
【Xie He：Daddy really gave a lot of thought to this. 🙂 】
【444：(⊙v⊙) Mn?】
【Xie He：Without his permission, Liu Yan would not dare tell me Deng Jingwen’s location. He’s waiting for me to come and beg him on my knees. Hehe, how wicked.】
………………………………
Xie He quickly arrived at the hotel that Deng Jingwen was at. However, before he could enter, he noticed a group of approaching people. These people were all people that had a bone to pick with Deng Zhuo!
【Xie He：How is my luck so good today?】
【444：…Probably because Deng Zhuo has too many enemies, so the chances of meeting one is very high? _(:зゝ∠)_】
【Xie He：Baby, you’ve truly been getting smarter.】
It looked like the plan he had set in motion could be completed in one day. Very good. What he liked the most was efficiency.
The one at the forefront of the crowd was a second-generation mafia heir, Zhao Ling. His family was involved in shady business, and what he liked the most was to fool around in said business. One time, the girl he had taken a fancy to was unfortunately liked by Deng Zhuo. Deng Zhuo had always been arrogant. When his demands remained unanswered, Deng Zhuo directly smashed his head open. Afterwards, the woman was also stolen by him. Usually, Zhao Ling was a local tyrant. In the end, he met the even more arrogant Deng Zhuo and suffered a great loss. That entire year, he was treated as a laughingstock in social circles. There was still a scar on his forehead. At that time, if it wasn’t because Deng Zhuo’s old man suppressed him, he would have fought with him, disregarding life and death!
Right now, Deng Zhuo had been kicked out of the family. Deng Jingwen clearly said that he wouldn’t care about his life or death anymore. So, how could Zhao Ling sit still? He could finally vent his enormous hatred! He had wanted to find trouble for Deng Zhuo. Who would have known that he didn’t even have to lift a finger, and Deng Zhuo would send himself right to his door!
Xie He was very clear about the situation he was in. However, Deng Zhuo would not have this kind of self-awareness. From the start, he had never cared about Zhao Ling at all.
Xie He ignored Zhao Ling and brushed past him! As a result, he was suddenly tripped by someone and fell to the ground. He raised his head in anger, “You’re seeking death, ah!”
After these words were uttered, Zhao Ling laughed incessantly. The people around him also laughed. Everyone had said that Deng Zhuo was an idiot since long ago. Indeed, it was a fully justified reputation! Things had already reached this point, but he unexpectedly had no self-awareness at all! He even dared to act this arrogant!
Zhao Ling walked over and stepped onto Xie He’s back. Before Xie He could get up, he ended up on the floor again.
“Perhaps it isn’t me who’s seeking for death, ne!” Zhao Ling pushed his bangs up, revealing his scar and laughed sinisterly, “Oh Great Young Master Deng, you must have offended a great number of people by now. You must have already forgotten about me, ba?”
Xie He glared at him fiercely, “Scram!”
Zhao Ling looked at Xie He. Those angry eyes on that beautiful face seemed to shoot fire. They were like a blooming flower of raging flames. Truly…much more interesting than any woman! He suddenly reached out to caress Xie He’s face, “Deng Jingwen doesn’t want you. Who are you acting arrogant for, ne? This appearance isn’t bad. It’s said that a lot of people like pretty boys like you. You’d definitely fetch a good price.”
The other people began to laugh when they heard this, each of them successively expressing their approval of this idea.
Only then did Xie He feel a bit afraid. Fear finally revealed itself within his eyes. The next moment, he was lifted by his hair up off of the ground. Zhao Ling hooked his arm around the other’s neck and pressed him up against his own body, sneering, “I have many ways of dealing with people. I guarantee that even when you’re in so much pain you’d rather die, no marks will be left on your body. Wait until Gege has finished venting his rage. I promise I’ll help you find a new home, yeah? Aren’t I so considerate of you?”
“Scram! Let me go! You guys, let me go!” Xie He did his best to struggle.
However, several other men came over to restrain him as well. Xie He couldn’t free himself at all and was slowly dragged away. He couldn’t stop the despair from flowing out of his eyes!
At this moment, Deng Jingwen stepped out of the hotel and looked over when he heard the hubbub.
A thread of hope shot out of Xie He’s eyes as he shouted, “Daddy! Daddy! Save me!”
The author has something to say:
After reading this chapter, see if you guys still dare to say this author writes short chapters!\\\\\\\\(≧▽≦)/
Cough, cough, cough…in order to release this earlier, this author did her best…Beep, old person card.
Deng Jingwen: Mn, someone said I’m old? Hehe, next chapter, I’ll let you see whether or not I’m old.
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Thank you to the darlings that have always been leaving comments. I feel really happy reading your comments~~ Thank you for the support, my beloveds~
Thank you my dears for throwing mines~~ Thank you to all my big thighs. Yingyingying, truly fortunate.
Kara: Oh…guess who isn’t laughing anymore…this chapter wasn’t really funny, but I’m hoping the future DJ/XH interaction will make up for it. ¯\_( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)_/¯